Talent identification and development in athletics: a comparison of Flemish and Dutch policy initiatives. Case study 4.1

The 'global sporting arms race' (De Bosscher et al., 2008; Oakley & Green, 2001) tackled the ambitions of many countries. The prosperity of increasing success at international competition by growing (governmental) investment reversed (van Bottenburg, 2009). A crucial question in this perspective is how national sporting organizations are able to develop a performance driven management system with regard to elite sport development. Although most elite sport systems refer to common policy characteristics, there is a lack of scientific research on the organisational performance of national governing bodies (NGBs), which is the main organisation responsible for delivering elite success at elite level (Sotiriadou & Shilbury, 2009). NGBs have specific tasks and aims in developing elite sport in their disciplines. The main question addressed in this case study is: 'What are the organisational tasks and processes used byNGBs (in athletics) in the quest for international sporting success?' Although 'facilities of high quality with appropriate accessibility, qualified coaches and a national competition structure with opportunities for athletes to participate internationally allow elite athletes to compete and become successful', specific knowledge concerning the sport specific organisational requirements to make these programs and facilities possible remains largely unknown.
NGBs are characterized by increasing professionalism, costumer orientation, modernization of management and greater accountability and transparency using public funds (Bayle & Robinson, 2007). Thereby, these NGBs are stuck between multiple dualities; (1) a tension between elite development and club development, (2) the individualized programs of elite athletes, the value placed on individual development paths contrary to collective needs of club members and the social value of sport participation and development and (3) the growing ambition towards a professional/bureaucratic model of management and the voluntaristic model of decision making found in many sport (Green, 2008). National sport governing bodies go through systematic and environmental change to take a more business type approach (Arnott, 2008).
How do these sport organisations construct strategic activities, practices and priorities in the development of elite success? What is their role apart from administrative units and national sport agencies directing national elite sport policies? Which are they key determinants or priorities of NGBs in the development of elite success? This paper is a case study on athletics in Flanders and the Netherlands. Rather than evaluating these trends and their effect on sport specific level, the aim of this case study is to evaluate the organisational performance of the Flemish (Vlaamse Atletiekliga) and Dutch (Atletiekunie) athletics association with regard to the elite athletics development process.